Tanoos, Prosecutor File Disputing Findings Of Fact In Bribery Case

By
Becca Costello

Posted January 24, 2019

Former Vigo County School Corporation Superintendent Daniel Tanoos wants the bribery charges against him dismissed. The defense and prosecution filed Findings of Fact with the court on Wednesday.

Tanoos is accused of accepting bribes from Energy Systems Group in exchange for a contract between the corporation and the school district. Court documents say Tanoos accepted gifts, including dinners and tickets to events.

Attorneys for Tanoos filed a motion to dismiss in October, saying the Marion County court has no jurisdiction over the case because none of the named parties are Marion County residents and none of the events cited in the charges occurred in Marion County.

In documents filed with the court Wednesday, the defense and prosecution teams outline their arguments on whether or not the case should move forward.

Tanoos' attorneys James H. Voyles and Jennifer M. Lukemeyer reiterate their stance that Marion County has no jurisdiction over the case.

They also say the events outlined in the probable cause do not constitute a criminal offense and that the charges are not specific enough to allow the preparation of a defense.

The prosecution's Findings of Fact points out that the man Tanoos allegedly accepted bribes from, Doug Tischbein, worked from two offices in Indianapolis, which establishes enough proximity to give the court jurisdiction.

The State also says they followed Indiana's bribery statute when preparing the charges.

"The State is not required to include detailed factual allegations in the charging instrument, though it may choose to do so," the document says.